Rotary pop-up sprinkler employing a fixed cam



ROTARY POP-UP SPRINKLER EMPLOYING A FIXED CAM Filed July 27, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 JAMES R. COSO/V INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Sept. 13, 1966 J 3050 3,272,437

ROTARY POP-UP SPRINKLER EMPLOYING A FIXED CAM Filed July 27, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JAMES R. COSON mugon Arromzrs United States Patent 3,272,437 ROTARY POP-UP SPRINKLER EWLGYING A FHXED CAM James R. Coson, Fresno, Calif, assignor to General Sprinkler Company, a corporation of Nevada Filed July 27, 1964, Ser. No. 385,364 Claims. (Cl. 239--2tl6) The present invention relates to a rotary sprinkler adapted to discharge fluid in time spaced pulses of predetermined periodic sequence and more particularly to such a sprinkler which is cam-controlled to discharge fluid over predetermined radial sectors during rotation.

In the sprinkling of laWns and the like, the problem of limiting discharge of fluid from a sprinkler to predetermined sectors of the area surrounding the sprinkler has been long recognized and a variety of sprinklers have been provided for this purpose. Non-rotational sprinklers providing slotted apertures produce a fixed continuous spray over predetermined areas. However, because of the slots, their maximum distance of projection of discharged streams of fluid at a given available pressure is frequently less than desired and the slots have a tendency to clog with resultant distortion of their discharge patterns. Oscillating sprinklers have been able to utilize nozzles with greater range than the slotted nonrotational sprinklers. While oscillating sprinklers are capable of discharging streams of fluid which traverse back and forth across predetermined radially directed sectors, the discharge streams are characterized by sudden changes in direction of oscillation causing a nonuniform flnid distribution within the sector. Further, the operating mechanisms for oscillating sprinklers are somewhat sophisticated, are prone to malfunction in certain operational environments, and are more expensive than desired. Rotary sprinklers have long been recognized as being capable of producing a more uniform distribution patterns than oscillating sprinklers, of avoiding the difficulties incident to oscillation, of attaining maximum range for available pressures, and as being susceptible to simpler sturdier construction than oscillating sprinklers. However, rotary sprinklers have not previously been fully satisfactory in confining their discharge to predetermined radially directed sectors without undue complication of the structure involved or sacrificing uniformity of distribution within the sectors of discharge.

The foreging difficulties have been aggravated when the sprinklers have been incorporated into pop-up types of sprinklers which, when not in use, are unobtrusively retracted into a lawn or other mounting area but which automatically extend to elevated operating position when subjected to fluid pressure.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved rotary sprinkler having controlled periodic discharge during rotation.

Another object is to provide such a sprinkler of the pop-up type.

Another object is to provide an improved rotary sprinkler adapted to discharge fluid over a precisely delineated sector of its circumferential area.

Another object is to provide such a sprinkler which has improved uniformity of distribution over its predetermined sector thereof.

Another object is to provide a sprinkler which during operation rotates continuously in one direction while periodically discharging during traversal of a predetermined sector of revolution.

Another object is to provide such a sprinkler of compact, durable construction.

Another object is to provide such a sprinkler capable of ready disassembly for maintenance and repair purposes.

These, together with other objects, will become more fully apparent upon reference to the following description and accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a transverse vertical section through the sprinkler of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a section through the sprinkler taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, which shows a drive unit housing, turbine wheel, polygonal lower spindle portion and cam rod of the sprinkler.

FIG. 3 is a section through the sprinkler taken along line 33 of FIG. 1 which shows a non-rotating disc cam in camming engagement with cam follower rollers.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the rotary pop-up sprinkler of the present invention is shown generally in FIG. 1 and consists of a stationary body or covered cup 10 and a hollow substantially cylindrical sprinkler head 11 mounted for rotational and elevational movement above the body 10 within a protective shell 12.

Rigidly mounted in sealing engagement across the top of the body 10 is a removable substantially flat body cover 13. The cover is mounted by means of bodycover screws 14 which may be readily extracted for removal of the cover.

A hollow drive-unit housing 19 is mounted inside the body it for non-rotational elevational reciprocation with an annular space 20 separating the housing from the interior surfaces of the body. Projecting exteriorly from the substantially cylindrical side walls 21 of the housing 19 is a rigid guide lug 22 which is seated for sliding movement within a vertical guide groove 23 internally cast or otherwise provided in the body 10. The housing has a rigid substantially flat bottom plate 24 disposed in confronting relation with a fiuid inlet 25 and adapted to deflect fluid entering the body under pressure. The bottom plate is rigidly restrained from rotation by an anchor pin 30. The fluid inlet is connected to a fluid supply system by threaded engagement or the like, as indicated at 29 in FIG. 1. A cylindrical fluid-passage bearing sleeve 26 is centrally mounted on the top wall 27 of the housing and extends upwardly through an aperture 23 centrally located in the body cover 13. An annular cushion seal 31 is disposed about the sleeve and serves to seal the aperture 28 as well as to cushion the impact of the housing upon the body cover 13 during operation of the sprinkler.

Around the upper periphery of the cylindrical sprinkler head 11 are a plurality of equally spaced discharge apertures or nozzles 38 mounted in threaded engagement or the like, for ease of replacement. Each nozzle provides a conduit 39 with a beveled-edge inlet port 40 disposed interiorly of the head and an outlet port 41 disposed exteriorly of the head subjacently of a detachable protective cover plate 42.. The cover plate is rigidly mounted on the head by means of the plate screws. 43 which may be readily extracted in order to remove the plate when necessary. To allow convenience in disassembly for maintenance or repair, the sprinkler head may be constructed of separable elements sealingly joined in threaded engagement or the like, as at 44 in FIG. 1.

Within the head 11 adjacent to each inlet port 40 is a levered valve member 46 mounted for pivoting in a vertical plane passing through each conduit 39. Loosely mounted on the upper arm 47 of each valve member is a separate stopper valve 48 formed of a suitable elastorneric material, such as soft rubber. Each stopper valve comprises a central mounting stem 49 having a flat piston head Stl formed at its interior extremity and a spherical stopper seal 51 at its opposite extremity in confronting relation to its respective inlet port 40. The stopper valve is held loosely in position on the lever arm by the looped head 52 loosely circumscribing the central stem 49.

On the lower arm 58 of each levered valve member 46 is a cam-follower roller 59 mounted for rotation on a roller pin 60 collinearly extending from the lower arm. The pivotal mounting of the assembled valve member 46 is such that when allowed to pivot freely, the stopper valve 48 is positioned with the spherical stopper seal 51 disposed proximately in front of the inlet port 4t).

Rigidly depending from the lowest portion of the sprinkler head 11 is a tubular fluid-passage spindle 67 with its central axis collinear With the axis of rotation 68 of the sprinkler head 11. The spindle extends in rotatably journalled relationship through the bearing sleeve 26 into the drive unit housing 19. The enlarged polygonal lower drive portion 69 of the spindle provides an enlarged fluid entranceway 70 with lateral wall slots 71, as shown in FIG. 2. The polygonal drive portion is contained within the drive housing for rotational movement therein. Disposed between its upper shoulder 72 and the top wall 27 of the drive housing is a journal seal '73 serving to seal the journal passageway 75 as -well as to restrain the polygonal drive portion of the spindle from axial movement within the housing. An enlarged annular drive chamber 74 is provided between the polygonal walls of the spindle drive portion and the interior surfaces of the drive housing.

In the drive chamber 74 disposed loosely about the polygonal drive portion 69 is an annular turbine wheel 80, as shown in FIG. 2. Peripherally mounted on the wheel are equally spaced impulse blades 81 disposed for deflecting the water issuing from the fluid-drive ports 82. The ports are located in the side walls 21 of the drive housing 19, as shown in FIG. 2. At least one of said ports is adjustable for changes in size. The blades are capable of transmitting the momentum of the impinging fluid to the turbine wheel thus imparting a rotational movement to the wheel. Fixedly mounted on the interior surface of the wheel is a drive sleeve 83 made of an elastomeric material and having a predetermined irregular surface, as shown in FIG. 2, adapted to engage in retation the angular surfaces of the polygonal drive portion 69.

Freely extending through the fluid-passage spindle 67 is an elongated cam rod 90 with its lower end fixedly mounted on the drive-housing bottom plate 24 by means of a rod anchor pin 91 and its upper-end portion extending into the sprinkler head 11 where .it is centrally supported by the support bracket 92. Rigidly mounted on the upper end of the rod within the lower interior of the sprinkler head is a disk cam 93 positioned for continuous camming engagement with the cam-follower rollers 59. The effective cam profile 94 forces the valve lower arm 58 radially outwardly thus swinging the stopper valve 48 inwardly and causing the corresponding nozzle 38 to be opened, as shown in FIG. I at 95. The effective profile occupies a sufficient circumferential portion of the disk cam as to cause at least one nozzle to be open at all times during operation. The non-effective cam profile 96 allows the lower arm to swing radially inwardly causing the stopper valve to approach the nozzle inlet port 40 resulting in nozzle closure, as shown at 97 in FIG. 1. The non-effective profile is of sufficient circumferential length to cause closure of each nozzle while traversing the arc adjacent to an area in which no fluid is to be discharged.

Operation The operation of the sprinkler of the present invention is believed to be readily apparent but is briefly summarized at this point. For operation in lawns, the sprinklers are mounted in the soil at locations suitable for allowing optimum water distribution over the lawn. The sprinkler installed at each location is provided with a disc cam 93 having a cam profile appropriate for the sprinkling pattern desired for that particular location. The number of nozzles 38 required for each rotary sprinkler head 11 depends upon the configuration of the corresponding effective cam profile 94. In general, the applicable guideline is that at least one nozzle must be open at all times during the sprinkling process so as to allow continuous fluid flow through the sprinkler to achieve continuity of rotation.

The sprinkler is mounted by attachment to an underground water-supply header providing an outlet terminus for each of the sprinkler locations. When not operating, the assembled sprinkler head 11 with spindle 67 and drive unit housing 19 rest in a retracted position with the nozzles 33 beneath the ground surface and the protective cover plate 42 flush with the ground surface.

With the water supply turned on for sprinkling, the sprinkler head ill and drive unit housing 19 are elevated as a unit, as in FIGURE 1, by the force of the water so that the drive housing maintains a stationary nonrotating position in the top of the sprinkler body 10 and the plate 4-2 and nozzles 38 protrude above the ground for continuous rotation. The water enters the sprinkler under pressure through the fluid inlet 25 striking the flat bottom 24 and imparting an upward lift to the housing and head. This lift is supplemented by the flotational force created by the hollow housing. When the assembly is in its elevated position, the pressurized water continues to seek outlet by escaping into the housing through the fluid-drive ports 82 swirling and impinging with driving force upon the turbine wheel blades 81 so as to cause the wheel to rotate.

The loosely disposed turbine Wheel 80 rotates in an orbit around the polygon-shaped spindle drive portion 69 and in turn causes the spindle to rotate by forceful glancing contact of the drive sleeve clefts 83 with the angular edges of the spindle drive portion. The rotational speed of the spindle and head 11 depends upon the speed of the water-driven turbine wheel and may be regulated by changing the velocity of the impinging water. This velocity is directly effected by the size of the fluid-drive ports 82 as well as the discharge capacity of the nozzles 38.

The swirling water in the drive-unit housing 19 moves around the bottom edges and through the lateral slots 71 of the polygonal spindle portion 69 up into the spindle 67. Through the rotating spindle the water flows until it reaches the rotating head 11, where it streams out through the open nozzles 95.

Centrifugal force and the water pressure in the head 11 urge the piston-headed stopper valves 48 into sealed closure position across their corresponding inlet ports 40. This action is only possible, of course, when the corresponding cam-follower 59 and nozzle 38 are traversing a non-effective are 96 of the cam profile. The loose mounting of the stopper valve provides a self-centering effect which compensates for any initial valve misalignment in the inlet port. The spherical shape of the stopper seal 51 supplements this self-aligning feature and enhances the sealing effect.

The function of the stationary actuating cam should at this point be clear. The actuating disc cam 93 acts on the cam-follower 59 at the bottom of the valve member 46 as the head and spindle assembly revolve. The stopper valve 48 is pulled away from the inlet port of the nozzle 38 and held away for a portion of are as determined by the effective cam profile 94. During this interlude water is allowed to discharge through the corresponding nozzle. At the end of the desired arc the cam profile recedes and the natural hydraulic forces and the centrifugal force act upon the stopper valve 48, closing the nozzle and stopping the flow.

It should be emphasized that at all times water must be flowing through the sprinkler to maintain its driving action. Therefore, as already mentioned, there must always be at least one nozzle or orifice open for flow. The drawings show a half-circle cam profile, as at 94 in FIG- URE 3. In the case of a quarter-circle unit, there would be a minimum of four nozzle and valve-member combinations. For a third-circle sprinkler, a minimum of three nozzle and valve units would be required along with the proper cam profile.

Maintenance of the sprinkler, with the unit mounted in its subterranean operating position, is facilitated by the relative ease of disassembly afforded by the present design. To extract the working elements from the sprinkler body, the protective plate screws 4-3 and the protective plate 42 are first removed to allow access to the body cover 13.

The body cover screws 14 are then removed, allowing the entire working assembly to be taken from the body for servicing. The body and shell 12 may be left in the ground, thus obviating any need to dislodge the surrounding turf.

In view of the foregoing, it is readily apparent that the structure of the present invention has provided an improved rotary sprinkler capable of sprinkling over a predetermined sector of the circumferential area in a uniform flow distribution. This feature allows use of the sprinkler at locations adjacent to non-irrigable areas which are best kept dry, such as walkways or inhabited areas.

Further, the springler is durable, simple, and adaptable to ready disassembly for maintenance and repair purposes. It should be obvious that the turning of the head, whether the unit is operating or not, will not damage the internal mechanism. Also, moving the head by hand will not change the position of its sprinkling arc. These advantages are desirable, particularly in public-type installations subject to vandalism.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patents is:

1. In a sprinkler having a housing adapted to receive fluid under pressure, and a sprinkler head mounted for rotation in the housing; the combination of a nozzle mounted on the head having an inwardly disposed intake port adapted to receive fluid from the housing, a valve engageable with the intake port to close the same urged into closed position by fluid pressure and by centrifugal force incident to rotation of the head, a cam mounted in fixed position in the housing, a cam-follower mounted for rotation with the head in cam engagement, and a linkage interconnecting the follower and the valve periodically opening the valve during rotation of the head in accordance with the profile of the cam.

2. A sprinkler comprising a body having a fluid inlet; a rotary sprinkler head mounted for substantially vertically reciprocating movement on said body providing means for repetitively discharging a stream of high-pres sure fluid uniformly over a predetermined sector of circumferential area about the body and having a fluidpassage spindle rigidly depending therefrom, said spindle having a polygonally shaped drive portion rotatably disposed within said body; a closed hollow drive housing reciprocatingly mounted within said body adapted to enclose the polygonally shaped drive portion of said spindle for rotation in spaced relation within said housing having substantially cylindrical walls providing inwardly projecting fluid drive ports as the only fluid inlet to said housing; and a turbine wheel loosely interposed between said housing walls and said polygonally shaped drive portion having peripheral inpulse blades and an interior drive sleeve adapted for loose rotative engagement with said hexagonal drive portion to cause said spindle and sprinkler head to rotate, said housing and head being adapted to be lifted by water under pressure passing through said spinkler.

3. A sprinkler comprising a body having a fluid inlet; a rotary sprinkler head having a plurality of discharge apertures mounted for rotation in the body; cammed valve means individual to the apertures adapted alternatingly to open and to close their respective apertures; a hollow open-ended spindle projecting into the body rotatably mounted therein for longitudinal reciprocation terminating in an enlarged polygonal drive portion; a closed hollow drive housing mounted for translational reciprocation in said body enclosing said spindle drive portion in journalling engagement and having substantially cylindrical walls providing fluid drive ports; an annular turbine wheel loosely circumscribing said spindle drive portion having peripheral impulse blades and an interior drive sleeve adapted for loosely glancing engagement with said polygonal drive portion, said turbine wheel being responsive to fluid under pressure to cause said spindle and sprinkler head to rotate; and an elongated cam rod having a lower end mounted centrally on said drive housing extending in circumferentially spaced relation through said spindle into said sprinkler head having an upper end centrally disposed within said head providing a stationary disc for engagement with said rotary cammed valve means with selected peripheral profile causing at least one aperture to be open at all times during operation of the sprinkler.

4. A sprinkler comprising a body having a fluid inlet; a hollow substantially horizontally rotatable sprinkler head reciprocatingly mounted above the body having a plurality of discharge nozzles and a levered valve member pivotally mounted interiorly adjacently of each nozzle, each of said valve members having an upper seal portion disposed in confronting relation with the corresponding nozzle, a lower portion having a cam-follower-roller and a central pivotal mounting portion, said levered valve members being adapted for rhythmic tappetlike action continuously repetitively to open and to sealingly close their respective nozzles; a fluid-passage spindle depending rigidly from the head into the body rotatably mounted therein for elevational reciprocation terminating in an enlarged polygonal drive portion disposed within said body; a fluid-drive member mounted in fixed polar orientation within said body for imparting rotational movement to said spindle and sprinkler head adapted to lift said head when pressurized fluid flows through said fluid inlet; and an elongated cam rod centrally disposed in circumferentially spaced relation within said spindle having a lower end rigidly mounted on said fluid-drive member and an upper end extending into said sprinkler head providing a stationary disc cam disposed for engagement with said rotating cam-follower rollers having an effective cam pnofile proportionate to the arc of movement of the corresponding discharge nozzle while open, such that at least one nozzle is always open.

5. A rotary sprinkler comprising a covered cup having a fluid inlet; a rotary hollow sprinkler head mounted above the cup having a plurality of circumferentially equally spaced discharge nozzles and a levered valve member pivotally mounted interiorly adjacently of each nozzle including an upper arm having a self-aligning stopper seal disposed in confronting relation with said nozzle, a lower arm having a cam-follower roller and a central pivotal mounting portion, said valve member being adapted for rhythmic tappet-like action continuously repetitively to open and to sealingly close said nozzle; a hollow closed drive unit housing mounted inside the cup for elevational movement in fixed polar orientation having an integral bearing sleeve extending upwardly out of the cup and peripheral fluid drive ports adapted to direct the entrance of fluid into said housing; a water--passage spindle rigidly depending from the head through said mounting sleeve with an enlarged lower portion disposed inside the drive unit housing having peripherally polygonal walls with angular surfaces in annularly spaced relation with said housing and an enlarged interior passageway opening freely into said housing; an annular turbine wheel loosely disposed in said housing circumscribing said lower polygonal portion in annularly spaced relation therewith having impulse blades exteriorly mounted for deflecting fluid impinging from said drive ports and an interiorly mounted drive sleeve having a selected profile adapted for loose rotative engagement with the angular surfaces of said polygonal walls for imparting rotative movement to said spindle and sprinkler head; and an elongated cam rod centrally disposed within said spindle so as to allow free flow of fluid therealong having a lower end rigidly mounted on said drive housing and an upper end portion extending into said sprinkler head having a stationary disc cam mounted thereon for camming engagement with the cam-follower rollers of said valve members, said disc cam having a cam profile of effective circumferential extent greater than the circumferential spacing of said nozzles so that during rotation of the head at least one nozzle is open at all times.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Burdick 239206 X- Buckner 239206 Coles et a1. 239206' Brooks 239206 Buelna et a1 239240 X Nelson et al 239204 X Nelson 239206 Kennedy 239236 X Skidgel 239240 X M. HENSON WOOD, ]R., Primary Examiner. 5

V. C. WILKS, Examiner. 

1. IN A SPRINKLER HAVING A HOUSING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE FLUID UNDER PRESSURE, AND A SPRINKLER HEAD MOUNTED FOR ROTATION IN THE HOUSING; THE COMBINATION OF A NOZZLE MOUNTED ON THE HEAD HAVING AN INWARDLY DISPOSED INTAKE PORT ADAPTED TO RECEIVE FLUID FROM THE HOUSING, A VALVE ENGAGEABLE WITH THE INTAKE PORT TO CLOSE THE SAME URGED INTO CLOSED POSITION BY FLUID PRESSURE AND BY CENTRIFUGAL FORCE INCIDENT TO ROTATION OF THE HEAD, A CAM MOUNTED IN 